Comprehension:
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Swami's day takes a turn when he finds himself alone after the Geography Master's absence. He wanders the school corridors, looking down on the younger kids engaged in seemingly trivial activities like playing with clay. To Swami, school should be about serious subjects, not child's play. Eventually, he finds his friends, but their demeanor is off; they seem distant and unfriendly. When Swami attempts to join their game, he is met with ridicule, particularly the insult of being called “Rajam’s Tail,” which signifies his perceived eagerness to follow only one friend, Rajam. This harsh label hits Swami hard, leaving him embarrassed and feeling isolated.
In English class, Swami struggles to focus on the lesson, his mind plagued by feelings of rejection. After school, he walks home in a daze, contemplating the rift between him and his friends. When he reaches home, he distracts himself by watching a piece of tin float by in the gutter, creating a makeshift boat for it using paper. As he gets lost in his thoughts while observing the boat’s journey, it encounters many obstacles, symbolising his own struggles and feelings of helplessness.
Though Swami tries to adapt to his new social position as an outcast, he often longs for his old friendships.
The day starts with Swaminathan eagerly cleaning his room and preparing for Rajam’s arrival, worried about how to make a good impression.
When Rajam arrives, the visit exceeds Swaminathan’s expectations; the atmosphere is pleasant with good food and good conversation. They chat about everything from local friends to tiger-hunting tales. Swaminathan feels a bit shy when Rajam inquires about his books, adding to the comedic moments.
Swami is not popular with his classmates as-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → he was friends with only one student.
The classmates mock Swami by calling him "Rajam's Tail", a label that "signifies his perceived eagerness to follow only one friend, Rajam". His attachment to one friend is the reason given for the distance between him and the others.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: the children were unfriendly. — Incorrect. Result, not cause: the friends do seem "distant and unfriendly", but that is how his unpopularity shows itself.
Option 3: he didn't know how to play games. — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the passage only says he "attempts to join their game"; nothing is said about his skill at games.
Option 4: the children were scared of his aloofness. — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the children ridicule him; they are not afraid of him, and the passage does not call him aloof.
Note: The words "distant and unfriendly" do appear in the passage, but they describe how the classmates behave towards Swami after they have turned against him; the passage does not give them as the reason for his unpopularity.